Shelvey was instrumental for the Swans, playing a part in all four goals as Wilfried Bony hit a double and Pablo Hernandez also got on the scoresheet in a win which has all-but secured their Premier League status.

Just four minutes after Gabriel Agbonlahor had levelled for Paul Lambert's side, Shelvey put the hosts back in front as he controlled the ball on the edge of the centre circle before finding the net with an audacious volley that Monk was full of praise for.

"It was brilliant. Like I've said before, he tries those sort of things in training and he's got that type of finishing in his locker," he told Sky Sports.

"There's no better stage to do it than actually on the pitch out there in front of the crowd. It was a great finish, great technique and gave the keeper no chance. I'm sure he enjoyed that goal."

As a result of the victory over Villa, Swansea climbed to 12th in the table with an eight-point cushion between themselves and the bottom three, something which Monk feels that his side deserve.

"We're not mathematically safe just yet but it's been coming. Performance levels have been very good apart from a couple of occasions," he said.

"That sort of result has been coming for a while, we've had some very good results here. We had the 3-0 against Cardiff, there was Norwich and then obviously today which was great.

"It was just nice to see the boys, especially second half, passing the ball very well - there was some great movement and some great goals."

Meanwhile, Monk also paid tribute to former Swans midfielder Ferrie Bodde who was in an induced coma after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

Fans at the Liberty Stadium paid tribute to the 31-year-old with a round of applause on the sixth minute in honour of his shirt number, and it has since emerged that his condition has improved.

Monk said: "One of our staff actually spoke to him on the seventh minute, rang him up and obviously we believed he was still in a coma, that was the last word we had before the game.

"He's obviously gone back home now which is great news for us and I'm really pleased for him. So to come in afterwards and find out that on the seventh minute, he had that phone call and understood what had gone on here.

"He was extremely proud, I think he broke down in tears and we're just really happy for him.

"The way the club is, we always care about people who mean something to this club and Ferrie is definitely one of them and it's great to know that he's on the mend."

Speaking of his own future, Monk says he is enjoying his current role in charge of first team affairs and is keen to continue.

"Since the day I stepped through that door I felt the passion of the fans and what the club stands for," he said.

"The way that we work and over the years how we've progressed - you want to be part of that, of course you do in whatever capacity.

"If I'm doing it in this capacity, then even better. There can be no prouder man than me in terms of where I'm stood right now.

"I never would've thought of that 10 years ago when I walked through the door, but I can only do what I'm doing - working as hard as I can.

"I want the club to do as well as it can but I also want to do as well as I can so it's important that we have that going forward."